Average drift speed of charge carriers + ratios + resistances. Need help?

A 12V battery with negligible internal resistance is connected to two resistors Y and Z, the resistors are connected in series.
The resistors are made from wires of the same material. The wire Y has a diameter d and length l. The wire Z has a diameter 2d and length2l.

(i) Determine the ratio:
average drift speed of the charge carriers in Y / average drift speed of the charge carriers in Z.

(ii) Show that:
resistance of Y / resistance of Z = 2.

(iii) Determine the potential difference across Y.

(iv) Determine the ratio:
power dissipated in Y / power dissipated in Z.

P.S. sorry for long question... but it has to be done...

1 Answer
Sep 19, 2017

I got

Explanation:

(i) The average drift velocity u is given by the expression

u = I /(n A q)
where I is the current flowing in the resistor, n is the number density of charge-carrier, A is cross sectional area of the conductor, and q is the charge on the charge-carrier, in this case electronic charge.
:.u_Y/u_Z=(I /(n A q))_Y/(I /(n A q))_Z

As the resistors are made from the same wire =>nand q are same for both, are connected in series => current flowing in the resistors is same. Above ratio reduces to

u_Y/u_Z= A _Z/A_Y .......(1)
=>u_Y/u_Z= ((pid_Z^2)/4)/((pid_Y^2)/4)

Inserting given values we get

u_Y/u_Z= ((2d)^2)/d^2
=>u_Y/u_Z= 4

(ii) Resistance R of a conducting wire is given as

R=(rhoL)/A
where rho is resistivity of material, L length of wire and A ist area of cross section.

Now required ratio

R_Y/R_Z=((rhoL)/A)_Y/((rhoL)/A)_Z

Noting that rho is same for both resistors,

R_Y/R_Z=L_Y/L_Z A_Z/A_Y

Using (1) and inserting given values we get

R_Y/R_Z=l/(2l)xx 4
=>R_Y/R_Z=2
Proved

(iii) Total resistance in the circuit

R_T=R_Y+R_Z
=>R_T=R_Y+R_Y/2=3/2R_Y .....(2)

From Ohm's law, Current in the circuit

I=V/R_T

Potential difference across resistor Y is give as

V_Y=IR_Y
V_Y=(V/R_T)R_Y

Using (2) we get

V_Y=(V/(3/2R_Y))R_Y
=>V_Y=2/3V

Inserting value of voltage source we get

V_Y=2/3xx12=8V

(iv) Power dissipated in resistor is given as

P=I^2R

The required ratio

P_Y/P_Z=(I^2R)_Y/(I^2R)_Z
=>P_Y/P_Z=R_Y/R_Z=2, (given in (ii) above)